This course was attended by a number of surgical senior residents and surgical registrars. The session consisted of a brief morning of lectures explaining basic concepts behind enteric anastomosis and stapling devices. This was then followed by a number of practical wet specimen sessions where residents and registrars were able to practice end-to-end interrupted bowel anastomosis, side-to-side (functional end-to-end) doubled layered sutured anastomosis, side-to-side stapled anastomosis and also circular stapled anastomosis.

Due to popular demand, this course was run twice this year. Attendees ranged from interns to surgical registrars and the course featured a number of lectures on the laparoscopic stack, patient positioning, electrosurgical technology and lap safety, pneumoperitoneum and safe entry techniques. The practical component consisted of activities initially on dry specimens with exercises to promote safe entry into the abdomen, precise tissue handling, transfer of objects, and respect for tissue planes. This was followed by activities on wet specimens allowing the use of electrosurgical devices, promoting safe use of these instruments and an understanding of the importance of ergonomics in laparoscopic surgery.

This is the first edition of a newsletter from the newly established Surgical Research, Education and Training (SERT) Institute at RNSH. It has been a busy six months during which much has been achieved. Job advertisements for Manager of the SERT Institute and Manager of the Surgical Audit Unit (SAU) are about to be released with expected appointments and start dates in January 2017. Discussions about the physical location of the SERT Institute on the main campus are being finalized and we anticipate that renovations will commence early in 2017 with a view to moving in no later than May 2017. We look forward to welcoming you at the official opening of RNSH’s first Academic Surgical Institute next year!